Gear shifting apparatus



Feb. 14, 1933. B. P. SCHOLZ 1,897,591

' GEAR SHIFTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 11, 1932 s Sheets-She et 2 2/ SECOND FI G.4.

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Feb. 14, 1933.

B. P. SCHQLZ 5 GEAR SHIFTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 11, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 E S R E V R Us m vvw Feb. 14, 1933.

B. P. scHoLz 1,897,591

GEAR SHIFTING APPARATUS,

Filed Jan. 11, 1932 s Sheets-Sheet 4" FIG. IO.

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- r za- PRESSURE TY-PE NEUTRAL" are illustrated several Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFncs BURTON POLLABD SCHOLZ, F WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI GEAR SHIFTIN G APPARATUS Application iiled- January 11, 1932. Serial No. 585,962.

gear shifting apal operation is relayed through a suitable means to effect ample forces for shifting gears against substantial resistances; the,

provision of advantageous safety features in apparatus of this class; and the provision of apparatus of the class above described which is simple in construction and rugged in operation. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the device in neutral position, the horizontal section of the valve therein shown being taken substantially along line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 2 isa diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 1, showing the parts in position for first speed operation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts in position for second speed operation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to F ig. 1 showin the arts in position for third or high spee operation;

Fig. 5 is adiagrammatic view similar to Fig. 1, showing the parts in position for reversing operation;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken substantially along lines 6-6 of Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section taken through certain drawings, in which cut ofl" parts,-,-and is taken substantially on line 88 of Fi 1;

Fig. 9 is a fiorizo'ntal section taken substantially along the lines 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view showing the device connected to an open gear box, the apparatus being set for reverse operation;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of Fig. 10, parts being shown in section for clarity;

Figs. 12 and 13 are,respectively,afragmentary plan, and a side elevation, showing certain structural details;

Fig. 14.- is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating an alternative form and 15 is a detail showing an alternate clutc pedal and valve position.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout. the several views of the drawings. Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there .is shown at numeral 1 a selector control valve comprising a body 3 having a rotatable core 5, the latter having a port 7. The port 7 is in communication with a central port 11, the latter also communicating with a line 13 which leads to suitable vacuum apparatus, such as the intake manifold of the automotive engine found on the vehicle to which the present invention applies, or to a vacuum or pressure pump. Whether vacuum or pressure apparatus is used depends upon'the form of the invention used, as will be vacuum apparatus is to 5).

The line 13 is intersected by a slide valve 2 having a port 4 adapted to align with the opening in is thrown to clutch opening position (Fig. 15). In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the clutch pedal is in closed position; hence valve 2 is drawn shut, so far as the line 13 is concerned, but at this time the port 4 connects the pipe 6 to an atmospheric relief 8. It is thus clear that a vacuum is only available at'the control valve 1 when the clutch of the vehicle is open, thus making it impossible to have the gears shifted (under control of said control valve 1) except when said clutch is properly to be used (Figs. 1

shown. With the preferred form of the invention;

pipe 13 when the clutch pedal 9 's a peripheral port 17.

is provided with an outwardly stem having a suitable handle 1 rue purpose of manually rotating the rom the body 3 of the valve 1 ipes arranged in the plane of and 17. Pipe 21 passes to the a cylinder 23. Pipe 25 passes i A and of said cylinder 23. Both 6. pipes 21 and 25 pass to the cylinder 23 way of zelv-e ports 27 and 29 respectively, said ports being arranged in a stem w fch extends from a selector piston 33, 1 ct-tel operating in a second cylinder 35.

-iler extension 36 from the selector piswhich reciprocates in said cylinder 23 h 39 and 41. Port 39 controls a pipe passing from said valve 1 to the low- "re cylinder 35. The port 41 concylinder 35.

igs. 3 and 9 are shown the ports 27, .d also exemplify ports 39 and 41. is clear from Fig. 1, the ports 27, 29 and 1 open their respective lines only when pistons 33 and 37 are in central or neuposition within their cylinders. When said pistons are out of neutral position, the ports 27, 29 and/or 39, 41 are out of comunication with their respective lines. Thus an either of the pistons 33 or 37 are out position, the other cylinder carryti er piston is out of communication r Hence it is impossible to arr or -until the other cylinder has its in neutral position. This, as it will be nts meshing more than one pair time and thus prevents inconration which might otherwise a third cylinder 47, the latter a piston 49. The piston or slider .ncctec; Wltn a double bell crank M eating iod 53 and bell crank 51 form- .lider crank l1,8l13.11lSm (see Fig, 12}. nsion as from the cylinder 47 forms for this mechanism.

e he l crank 51, through a spring 55 connection with a slider 57. The slider ciprocates in another frame extension i 7 There is also a said c linder 4 59 between the operation in either of the cylin line 3 is in communication with the spring 55 and the arm 61 of said slider 57. This has certain uses to be described.

The other arm of the double bell crank 51 has a similar connected spring 69 and a lostniotion engagement between said spring 69 with a slider 63. The slider 63 has an arm 65 for making the lost-motion engagement 67 with the spring 69.

These sliders 57 and 63 normally abut against the end of extensions and 71 from the extension rods 36 and 31 respectively of said pistons 33 and 37 respectively.

The normal condition is shown in Fig. 1 wherein the apparatus is in neutral position with the clutch closed. When the clutch is opened, a vacuum is created in the port 7 of the valve 1. Thevalve 1 being set for neutral, no connection is made with any of the pipes 21, 25, 43 or 45. However, a vacuum at this time is created in the branch line 6 and communicated by way of the port 4 to the line 6 causing the centralizin or neutralizing piston 49 in cylinder 47 to e drawn to the top shown in Fig. 1. A slight, tension in the springs 55 and 69 at this time insures drawing the sliders 57 and 63 against the extensions 70 and 71 to hold the pistons 33 and 37 at the central portions of their cylinders. If the clutch be opened the vacuum above the piston 49 is broken but the pistons 33 and 37 remain at rest because of the detents ordinarily associated with the shifter rods which they operate.

At this stage a description of the gear box used in connection with the pistons 33 and 37 will be given. The connections are shown in Figs. 10 and 11. These figures show reverse connections corresponding to the arrangement shown in Fig. 5. From piston 37 there is an extension 81 which, through a linkage 83 serves to effect 0 ration of shifter fork 85. Likewise, the piston 33 has an extension 87 which, through a linkage 89 serves to operate a shifter t ork 91.

The shifter forks 85 and 91 comprise por tions of the known selective gear change box used on automotive vehicles and. the like. The fork 85 selectively controls first and re verse speed and the fork 91 selectively controls second and high speed. As will be clear from the remainder of this specification, each of the forks must necessarily assume a neutral position (gears controlled thereby being disconnected) when the other fork is in non-neutral position (gears being connected). The neutral position of a given fork must always be assumed before the other fork is activated to throw its gears into mesh. The details of the gear box will not be further elaborated, because these are obvious from the Figs. 10 and 11 in view of the known characters of such boxes. The detents for the rods 93 and 95 are shownat numeral 97. These are also known.

Returning to Fig. l, the port 4:, when the clutch closes, puts the pipe 6 in communication with the relief 8 and thus is equalized pressure on both sides of the piston l9.

To shift the mechsnismto the first speed position shown in Fig. 2, the valve 1 is set so that the port 'Z communicates with the pipe .25. The clutch is then momentarily opened, thus causing the pipe 13 to be opened to the vacuum and hence drawing a vacuum in said pipe 25; also in pipe 6. The pistonBS being thus at central position causes the port 29 to be open and thus the vacuum is transmitted to the upper end of the cylinder 23 and the piston 37 is drawn up as shown at Fig. d. The momentary opening of the clutch es stated, also causes the vacuum he trans mitted to pipe 6 and up the piston l9 and preventing the piston 33 from moving down. When the arm it pushes its slider 63 to the position shown in Fig. 2, this is done by stretching the spring 69. hen the clutch is released for re-cloring, the piston 49 in cylinder l? will assume the position shown in Fig. 2, wherein the tension in spring 69 has caused the hell cranks 51 to he rotated clockwise to draw down said iston 29, the vacuum shove piston 49 losing lioken.

To go to second speed conditions, illus trated as Fig. 3, the Valve 1 is set so the port T is in communication with the pipe 43,

as shown. No vacuum is transmitted to cylinder 35 until the piston 3? is again centralized. When the clutch i opened at vecuum will be transmitted through the line h to positively draw up the piston l?) and cause the hell crank 51 to be rotated counterclocl-tise. Hence the slider 68 is drawn down and also the arm 70, with the result that the piston 37 is centralized, air heing at this time admitted shove piston 37 by reason of the pipe 25 being in temporary communication with the atmosphere by way of port l? and relief 15, while the valve 1 was being set and for a short period thereafter. lhis notion results in the port 39 transmitting the vecuum in line 43 to the lower end of the cylinder 35, whereby the conditions of F 3 are uttained. lt willhe noted that the ports 2"? and 29 are sutoine ticellv closed off so that the piston 37 cannot thereafter he decentralized. High or third speed position is shown in Fig. 4 wherein the port '5 is in communication with the line 45. Momentary opening of the clutch causes it vacuum in the line 6, thus temporarily pulling up the piston 49 and efi'ecting a counterclockwise rotation of the bell crank 51.

This efiects a tendency to drew up the piston 33 to neutral position hut the lostmotion connection 67 results in no motion being transmitted to the centrallv located pistons 37. At the some time the vacuum in the line tends to further drew up the piston 33. When the clutch is again closed, sir

in communication with the line 21.

thus to positively hold opening of the clutch results in the passes shove the piston 49, thus permitting it to drop down. the piston 33 is not broken by any release efiect and therefore the piston 33 having traveled to the ten of the cylinder, remains there, the spring; 69 "permitting" it do so, heceuse of the permitted clockwise action of the hell crank 51. lit will he understood that at this time the extension 'il causes the slider 63 to rise and that if the mitt-ed to descend hy hreeking the vacuum shove it thst the piston 33 could not he drown up end oi the cylinder.

Fig. 5 shown the connection for reverse goositionhig of ports wherein the pint "l temporary evacuation of the space shove the piston 49 (Fig, 4;} so that the hell crank 51. is moved counterclockwise. thus drawing down the piston 33 by way of the spring "39, arms 65, slider 63 end extensions 71.. Any vacuum shove the "piston 33 is lorolien hy reason of the fact that the line to is then in communication with the relief of the port 1?.

After piston 33 has been centrulizerl, the port opens, thus trensmitting the vecin 2i the bottom oil the cylinder 23, thus tending to draw i Vhen the clutch is again closed, the veeuum shove the goiston s9 is hrol-ten hy wey of line. 6 and the temporurily continuing vecuum heneeth the piston 3? draws down said piston 3'3, the spring at this time permitting the some because of the counterclockwise action oi": the hell crank 5 caused by hreelring vacuum shove the piston i9,

it should he understood that the piston 4% remains st the clutch is returned to ellect engagement and to open the line 8 to the line lin F it is shown the modification of the invention wherein is pressure is used, instead of s vscuum. like numerals indicate like nerts. Attention is called to the fact the only changes required are that the nine 6, instead of being connected to the top of the cylinder 4:7 is connected to the bottom, so that the oressure forces the piston 4?) up at the proper time, instead of a suction drawing said piston up. Also, the pipes 21 end 25 on the cylinder 23 are interchanged, as indiceted. Pipes 43 end 45 are also interchanged. Thus, instead of using sub-ethics pheric pressure on one side of the piston, a superatmospheric pressure is used on the other side thereof. The relative difi erences hetween the respective pressures on op osite sidesoi the pistons hes not been chang l t is to he understood that the drswings are diagrammatic and that the piston ratios and mechanical advantages or the. linkages therehetween are designed as to size to bring out the functions shone set out.

niston t9 were not perport 15 by way down the piston 35?,

However, the vscuum shove i ton of the cylinder until the 1195 In view of the above. itwill be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, two pneumatic cylinders, two reciprocating pistons therein respectively adapted to selectively shift gears, vacuum lines connected to the ends of said cylinders, valves controlled by the respective pistons to be opened when the pistons are unaffected by any vacuum and to be closed when they are so affected, the lines from a given 0 linder passing through the valve controlle by the other cylinder and means selectively communicating the respective lines with a vacuum, said last-named means having a relief port for relieving thr vacuum in all other of said lines except the one which is in communication with said vacuum and means for placing the piston which is not presented to the vacuum at neutral position, said last-named means comprising a third piston and cooperating cylinder, a linkage connecting said third piston with said former two pistons and a line adapted to present said last-named piston to said vacuum.

2. In apparatus of the class described, two pneumatic cylinders, two reciprocating pistons therein respectively adapted to selectively shift gears, vacuum lines connected to the ends of said cylinders, valves controlled by the respective pistons to be opened when the pistons are unaiiected by any vacuum and to be closed when they are so afi'ected, the lines from a given 0 linder passing through the valve controlled by the other cylinder and means selectively communicating the respective lines with a vacuum, said last-named means having a relief port for relieving the vacuum in all other of said lines except the one which is in communication with said vacuum and means for placing the piston which is not presented to the vacuum at neutral position, said last-named means comprising a third piston, a linkage connecting said third piston with said former two pistons and a line adapted to present said last-named piston to said vacuum and a valve adapted to be temporarily opened to efiect a vacuum at said third piston and at only a predetermined one of said two pistons at a given time.

3. In apparatus of the "class described, valves, two cylinders, two pistons in said cylinders respectively, extensions from said pistons adapted to operate elected gear shifting means, said valves being operated by said pistons, lines connected to opposite ends of said cylinders adapted to communicate variations in ressure thereto, the lines for a given cylin er passing through the valve controlled by the piston in the other cylinder, a third cylinder, means for conveying a change in pres sure to said third cylinder, a piston therein operated by said change in pressure, a linkage between said third piston and said two pistons adapted to centralize the latter upon operation of the third piston and means for conveying change in pressure to one of the two cylinders and to the third cylinder at the same time, whereby positive centralization of the first two pistons is effected, said means being temporarily o erable.

In testimony whereof, have signed my name to this specification this 4th day of Januar ,1932.

hURTON POLLARD SCHOLZ. 

